The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser and Caribbean Corridor Strike Force agents offloaded 721pounds of cocaine valued at $6.5 million Wednesday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, following the interdiction of a smuggling vessel in the Mona Passage.
Four men apprehended in this case claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals, according to a Coast Guard release. They are facing federal prosecution in Puerto Rico for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The charge carries carry a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of imprisonment for life.
During the late night hours of Sept. 26, 2022, the aircrew of a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine multi-role enforcement aircraft detected a suspect go-fast vessel in waters northwest of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico. With Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser in pursuit, the smugglers jettisoned multiple bales of suspected contraband into the water.
The Winslow Griesser crew stopped the suspect vessel, apprehended the four men, and recovered 12 bales of the jettisoned contraband, which later tested positive for cocaine.
“I cannot be prouder of the Winslow Griesser crew, especially our small boat crew, whose skill and professionalism were instrumental in stopping this drug smuggling go-fast vessel,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Tatara, cutter Winslow Griesser commanding officer.
The suspects also face an additional charge that includes assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.
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Cutter Winslow Griesser is a 154-foot fast response cutter that is homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.